Wireless local area network repeater with in-band control channel

ABSTRACT

A frequency translating repeater ( 200 ) for use in a WLAN environment includes an in-band management link. A signal received on an antenna ( 300 ) is split to provide signal detection in a detection and control unit ( 385 ) wherein detection is performed by detectors ( 370, 371 ) filters ( 375, 376 ), converters ( 380, 381 ) and a processor ( 385 ). Delay is added using delay lines ( 360, 361 ). The in-band signal envelope may be modulated with variable gain amplifier ( 330 ) and demodulated with detectors ( 370, 371 ) to establish the management link with higher protocol layer capability. Alternatively, a modern function at least partially compliant to 802.11 modulation may be used in parallel with the frequency translating repeater.

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application is related to and claims priority from pending U.S.Provisional Application No. 60/420,449 filed, Oct. 24, 2002, and isfurther related to PCT Application PCT/US03/16208 entitled WIRELESSLOCAL AREA NETWORK REPEATER, the contents of which are incorporatedherein by reference.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates generally to wireless local area networks(WLANs) and, particularly, the present invention relates to extendingthe coverage area associated with a WLAN repeater using an in bandcommunication protocol to allow repeaters and other network devices tocommunicate information to each other for network management functions.

Several standard protocols for wireless local area networks, commonlyreferred to as WLANs, are becoming popular. These include protocols suchas 802.11 (as set forth in the 802.11 wireless standards), IEEE802.16,IEEE802.20, home RF, and Bluetooth. The standard wireless protocol withthe most commercial success to date is the 802.11b protocol althoughnext generation protocols, such as 802.11g, are also gaining popularity.

While the specifications of products utilizing the above standardwireless protocols commonly indicate data rates on the order of, forexample, 11 MBPS and ranges on the order of, for example, 100 meters,these performance levels are rarely, if ever, realized. Performanceshortcomings between actual and specified performance levels have manycauses including attenuation of the radiation paths of RF signals, whichfor 802.11b are in the range of 2.4 GHz in an operating environment suchas an indoor environment. Access point to client ranges are generallyless than the coverage range required in a typical home, and may be aslittle as 10 to 15 meters. Further, in structures having split floorplans, such as ranch style or two story homes, or those constructed ofmaterials capable of attenuating RF signals, areas in which wirelesscoverage is needed may be physically separated by distances outside ofthe range of, for example, an 802.11 protocol based system. Attenuationproblems may be exacerbated in the presence of interference in theoperating band, such as interference from other 2.4 GHz devices orwideband interference with in-band energy. Still further, data rates ofdevices operating using the above standard wireless protocols aredependent on signal strength. As distances in the area of coverageincrease, wireless system performance typically decreases. Lastly, thestructure of the protocols themselves may affect the operational range.

Repeaters are commonly used in the mobile wireless industry to increasethe range of wireless systems. However, problems and complications arisein that system receivers and transmitters may operate at the samefrequency in a WLAN utilizing, for example, 802.11 WLAN or 802.16 WMANwireless protocols. In such systems, when multiple transmitters operatesimultaneously, as would be the case in repeater operation, difficultiesarise. Typical WLAN protocols provide no defined receive and transmitperiods and, thus, because random packets from each wireless networknode are spontaneously generated and transmitted and are not temporallypredictable, packet collisions may occur. Some remedies exist to addresssuch difficulties, such as, for example, collision avoidance and randomback-off protocols, which are used to avoid two or more nodestransmitting packets at the same time. Under 802.11 standard protocol,for example, a distributed coordination function (DCF) may be used forcollision avoidance.

Such operation is significantly different than the operation of manyother cellular repeater systems, such as those systems based on IS-136,IS-95 or IS-2000 standards, where the receive and transmit bands areseparated by a deplexing frequency offset. Frequency division duplexing(FDD) operation simplifies repeater operation since conflicts associatedwith repeater operation, such as those arising in situations where thereceiver and transmitter channels are on the same frequency for both theuplink and the downlink, are not present.

Other cellular mobile systems separate receive and transmit channels bytime rather than by frequency and further utilize scheduled times forspecific uplink/downlink transmissions. Such operation is commonlyreferred to as time division duplexing (TDD). Repeaters for thesesystems are more easily built, as the transmission and reception timesare well known and are broadcast by a base station. Receivers andtransmitters for these systems may be isolated by any number of meansincluding physical separation, antenna patterns, or polarizationisolation. Even for these systems, the cost and complexity of a repeatermay be greatly reduced by not offering the known timing information thatis broadcast, thus allowing for economically feasible repeaters.

Thus, WLAN repeaters have unique operating constraints due to the abovespontaneous transmission capabilities and therefore require a uniquesolution. Since these repeaters use the same frequency for receive andtransmit channels, some form of isolation must exist between the receiveand transmit channels of the repeater. While some related systems suchas, for example, CDMA systems used in wireless telephony, achievechannel isolation using sophisticated techniques such as directionalantennas, physical separation of the receive and transmit antennas, orthe like, such techniques are not practical for WLAN repeaters in manyoperating environments such as in the home where complicated hardware orlengthy cabling is not desirable or may be too costly.

One system, described in International Application No. PCT/US03/16208and commonly owned by the assignee of the present application, resolvesmany of the above identified problems by providing a repeater whichisolates receive and transmit channels using a frequency detection andtranslation method. The WLAN repeater described therein allows two WLANunits to communicate by translating packets associated with one deviceat a first frequency channel to a second frequency channel used by asecond device. The direction associated with the translation orconversion, such as from the frequency associated with the first channelto the frequency associated with the second channel, or from the secondchannel to the first channel, depends upon a real time configuration ofthe repeater and the WLAN environment. The WLAN repeater may beconfigured to monitor both channels for transmissions and, when atransmission is detected, translate the received signal at the firstfrequency to the other channel, where it is transmitted at the secondfrequency.

The above described approach solves many of the issues and problemspreviously noted by monitoring and translating in response to packettransmissions and may further be implemented in a small inexpensiveunit. However, while an exemplary architecture associated with the abovefrequency translating repeater adequately solves basic technicalrepeating problems, some important operational aspects, such as, forexample, network management, remain unaddressed. Exemplary networkmanagement functions allowing, for example, for the configuration,monitoring, and detection of the presence of network elements mayincrease the usefulness of an exemplary repeater. Network managementfunctions are particularly necessary in large scale networks deployedand managed by relatively centralized entities such as Multi-SystemOperator (MSOs) for example within the cable industry, Competitive LocalExchange Carriers (CLECs) within the telecommunications industry, oreven in the business community, for example within an enterprisesolution. Thus when repeater operation begins to fail or has failed, anetwork operator must quickly determine the presence and scope of thefailure to prevent poor or failed performance in the network and henceimprove customer dissatisfaction. Further, the presence of networkmanagement functionality allows targeted preventive maintenance to beperformed as opposed to periodic reactive maintenance which is costlyand disruptive. Network management functions may still furtherfacilitate initial repeater configuration ensuring an exemplaryfrequency translating repeater is properly performing repeaterfunctions, for example, on the correct channel, and at the correct powerlevels.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, in various exemplary and alternative exemplary embodiments,since the exemplary frequency translating repeater is suited forapplication within 802.11 WLAN environments, the exemplary frequencytranslating repeater may preferably include an 802.11 client. It will beappreciated that an 802.11 client refers to a WLAN node with protocolhandling capability. By incorporating 802.11 client functionality withinthe frequency translating repeater which is preferably a physical layeror RF only repeater with no higher layer functionality, networkmanagement functions may be realized allowing, for example, thereception of 802.11 messages directly addressed to the repeater, and thetransmission of messages directly to a managing node such as, forexample, an Access Point (AP). An exemplary frequency translatingrepeater configured in accordance with various exemplary embodiments hasthe capability to communicate to 802.11 APs, and APs can communicatedirectly to frequency translating repeaters, for example, regardingmanagement functions. In a situation where, for example, a full 802.11station device is used to provide the exemplary maintenance linkcapability in the repeater, the RF components of the station device maybe shared by the frequency translating repeater, including the Low NoiseAmplifier (LNA), Power Amplifier (PA), the up/down converters, thefilters, and the like. To further reduce the cost and complexity of suchan implementation, a subset of the 802.11 client device may be included,eliminating additional unused components, such as including a subset ofthe 802.11 MAC protocol to simplify the complexity of the processing, orincluding support for only the minimum sets of modulations required tosupport the management features. This may include support for only theminimum data rates for instance, such as 1 and 2 MBPS for 802.11b and802.11g, or only 6 MBPS for 802.11a. In this way, the repeater modemwould not support a protocol or functionality that is compliant with theIEEE802.11 or other requirements, but would be able to interoperate withother devices that are compliant for the required subsets for the entireprotocol. Alternatively, other standard client devices such as, forexample, wireless modems known in the art by such names asUltra-wideband, Bluetooth, HPNA or Home Plug 2, may be adapted for usein accordance with the invention.

One disadvantage associated with the implementation of an off-the-shelf,standards compliant 802.11 client within an exemplary frequencytranslating repeater is cost. The addition of an 802.11 client havingadditional hardware and software may drive the cost of the device toohigh for many applications. Therefore, a subset of the functionalityintegrated with the frequency translating repeater, for instance in asingle integrated circuit, will mitigate this disadvantage.

Thus a preferred approach includes using the architecture of thefrequency translating repeater described in detail, for example, in theabove-referenced application, allowing for a low cost, low ratemaintenance link. It should be noted that an exemplary frequencytranslating repeater in the form described in the referencedapplications is typically non-regenerative; it does not provide anyerror correction or other protocol functions. Thus in accordance withone exemplary embodiment, a modem may be used in parallel with anexemplary frequency translating repeater to function as a wirelessconnection to overhead and control management from the network, whichmodem communicates to and from the control processor of the repeater.The use of a modem in parallel with the frequency translating repeaterhas the advantage that it may be more easily implemented and thereforehas time-to-market advantages. A more integrated approach, wherecomponents enabling the modem functionality are shared with therepeater, and the modem itself is integrated with the repeater ispreferred.

In accordance with various exemplary and alternative exemplaryembodiments, capabilities already present in an exemplary frequencytranslating repeater are preferably used. It should be noted that abasic non-regenerative frequency translating repeater may be providedwith sensitive channel power detectors used to detect channel activityas more fully described in the above-referenced patent application, aswell as in a co-pending, commonly assigned International PatentApplication No. PCT/US03/29130 entitled “WIRELESS LOCAL AREA NETWORKREPEATER WITH AUTOMATIC GAIN CONTROL FOR EXTENDING NETWORK COVERAGE”,filed Oct. 15, 2003, Attorney Docket Number 27-008 the contents of whichare incorporated herein by reference.

Further in accordance with various exemplary and alternative exemplaryembodiments, the present invention preferably uses channel detectorsembedded in a receiver section of an exemplary frequency translatingrepeater to allow received signals to be demodulated using a form ofamplitude modulation. Further, transmitter power control may be set by,for example, gain control to perform modulation of the transmittedamplitude further allowing a control link to be established from therepeater to a management node, such as an AP. Accordingly, no additionalhardware is required to perform the management function and the basicrepeating function. RF components such as the LNA, the PA, the up and/ordown converters, the filters, and the like, are preferably sharedbetween the repeater and the embedded client function.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a diagram illustrating a WLAN including an exemplary repeaterenvironment in accordance with various exemplary embodiments.

FIG. 2 is a schematic drawing illustrating an exemplary frequencytranslating repeater and circuit for providing an in-band controlchannel.

FIG. 3 is a 802.11 or other standard or subset of the standard modem inparallel with the frequency translating repeater.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring now to FIG. 1, a wide area connection 101, which could be, forexample, an Ethernet connection, a T1 line, a wideband wirelessconnection or any other electrical connection providing a datacommunications path, may be connected to a wireless gateway, or accesspoint (AP) 100. The wireless gateway 100 sends RF signals, such as IEEE802.11 packets or signals based upon Bluetooth, Hyperlan, or otherwireless communication protocols, to client units 104, 105, which may bepersonal computers, personal digital assistants, or any other devicescapable of communicating with other like devices through one of theabove mentioned wireless protocols. Respective propagation, or RF, pathsto each of the client units 104, 105 are shown as 102, 103.

While the signal carried over RF path 102 is of sufficient strength tomaintain high-speed data packet communications between the client unit104 and the wireless gateway 100, the signals carried over the RF path103 and intended for the client unit 105 would be attenuated whenpassing through a structural barrier such as walls 106 or 107 to a pointwhere few, if any, data packets are received in either direction if notfor a wireless repeater 200, the structure and operation of which willnow be described.

To enhance the coverage and/or communication data rate to the clientunit 105, wireless repeater 200 receives packets transmitted on a firstfrequency channel 201 from the wireless gateway 100. The wirelessrepeater 200, which may be housed in an enclosure typically havingdimensions of, for example, 2.5−×3.5−×0.5″, and which preferably iscapable of being plugged into a standard electrical outlet and operatingon 110 V AC power, detects the presence of a packet on the firstfrequency channel 201, receives the packet and re-transmits the packetwith more power on a second frequency channel 202. Unlike conventionalWLAN operating protocols, the client unit 105 operates on the secondfrequency channel, even though the wireless gateway 100 operates on thefirst frequency channel. To perform the return packet operation, thewireless repeater 200 detects the presence of a transmitted packet onthe second frequency channel 202 from the client unit 105, receives thepacket on the second frequency channel 202, and re-transmits the packeton the first frequency channel 201. The wireless gateway 100 thenreceives the packet on the first frequency channel 201. In this way, thewireless repeater 200 is capable of simultaneously receiving andtransmitting signals as well as extending the coverage and performanceof the wireless gateway 100 to the client unit 105.

To address the difficulties posed by obstructions as described above andattendant attenuation of the signal strength along obstructed paths andthus to enhance the coverage and/or communication data rate to clientunit 105, exemplary wireless repeater 200, as shown in FIG. 1, may beused to retransmit packets beyond a range limited by propagation pathconstraints through, for example, frequency translation. Packetstransmitted on a first frequency channel 201 from AP 100 are received atrepeater 200 and re-transmitted, preferably with a greater power level,on a second frequency channel 202. Client unit 105 preferably operateson second frequency channel 202 as if AP 100 were also operating on it,such as with no knowledge that AP 100 is really operating on firstfrequency channel 201 such that the frequency translation istransparent. To perform return packet operations, repeater unit 200detects the presence of a transmitted return packet on second frequencychannel 202 from client unit 105, and is preferably configured toreceive the packet on second frequency channel 202, and to retransmitthe data packet to, for example AP 100, on first frequency channel 201.

Wireless repeater 200 is preferably capable of receiving two differentfrequencies simultaneously, such as first frequency channel 201 andsecond frequency channel 202 determining which channel is carrying asignal associated with, for example, the transmission of a packet,translating from the original frequency channel to an alternativefrequency channel and retransmitting the frequency translated version ofthe received signal on the alternative channel. Details of internalrepeater operation may be found in co-pending PCT Application No.PCT/US03/16208 the contents of which are incorporated herein byreference.

Repeater 200 may thus receive and transmit packets at the same time ondifferent frequency channels thereby extending the coverage andperformance of the connection between AP 100 and client unit 105, andbetween peer-to-peer connections such as from one client unit to anotherclient unit. When many units are isolated from one another, repeaterunit 200 further acts as a wireless bridge allowing two different groupsof units to communicate where optimum RF propagation and coverage or, inmany cases, any RF propagation and coverage was not previously possible.

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments, repeater 200 ispreferably configured to receive a signal and translate the frequency ofthe received signal with very little distortion or loss of the signal.To further provide network management functions, in accordance with afirst exemplary embodiment, repeater 200 may further be provided withclient device functionality. It should be noted that the term “device”is used to describe functions which would be carried out by a devicecompliant with 802.11 protocols. In the context of the presentinvention, the “device” may be a virtual device, that is, the device maybe realized in software with minimal additional hardware or maypreferably include existing hardware adapted for the purposes ofcarrying out functions associated with the client device. Thus theclient device is preferably integrated into repeater 200 and operates asfurther described herein below.

It will be appreciated that regardless of the exact implementation, anexemplary client device associated with the frequency translatingreceiver may operate as a distinctly identified and addressed device inthe network. Specifically, the client device may operate as anindependent node in the WLAN environment and may be addressed directlyby network management devices such as APs or the like and maycommunicate with and control repeater 200 and may perform regenerativefunctions on data passing therethrough.

In accordance with another exemplary embodiment, a modem may be providedsharing signal detection hardware from repeater 200. In such a scenario,a control processor preferably functions as a demodulator using powerdetection circuitry allowing modulation associated with the exemplarymanagement link to be based on modulating the amplitude of thetransmitted or received signal, or in other words, provide the linkin-band. If the same receiver and transmitter are to be shared, thecontrol processor must be capable of transmitting FCC part 15.247 orpart 15.407 compliant waveforms. Thus an AP, when sending a managmentsignal to repeater 200, may simply transmit a standard 802.11 signalwith dummy information. At least part of the dummy waveform is identicalto a standard 802.11 pre-amble with amplitude modulation performed onthe 802.11 waveform. It should be noted that although no meaningful802.11 data is in the 802.11 packet, the management information iscommunicated via the amplitude modulation on the dummy packet.

Alternatively, repeater 200 may transmit information associated with anexemplary maintenance or management link without necessarily receivingsignals from the AP. A waveform in accordance with such an exemplaryembodiment may be based on generating a modulated noise-like signal byamplifying an RF noise source such as a diode based noise generator, orother noise source at the noise floor of the signal which repeater 200just re-transmitted, or other noise source well known to those skilledin the art.

In accordance with still another exemplary embodiment, repeater controlprocessor may transmit an amplitude modulated additive white Gaussiannoise (AWGN) signal intended to communicate with an 802.11 AP suitableenhanced for reception thereof; which AP has the ability to demodulatean AM signal. It will be appreciated that such modulation may be a typeof amplitude modulation called on/off keying (OOK). In OOK, a signal isturned on and off to represent bit or symbol values, such as, forexample, on to represent a 1 and off to represent a 0. OOK is popularfor transmitting signals in environments where the symbol rate for thecommunication is much slower than the medium is capable of transmitting,such as, for example, in fiber optic cables. OOK modulation isconsidered to be a special case of Amplitude Shift Keying (ASK)modulation where no carrier or signal energy is present during thetransmission of, for example, a zero. OOK modulation is also popular incontrol applications where simplicity and low implementation costs areof importance. It will further be appreciated that OOK modulation hasthe added advantage of allowing the transmitter to remain idle duringthe transmission of, for example, a zero, leading to reduced powerconsumption. It will be appreciated then that a transceiver section maybe provided associated with the exemplary frequency translating repeaterand exemplary client device, so as to receive and demodulate, andmodulate and transmit signals associated with the management link.

It will be appreciated that in addition to a suitable modulation schemefor the exemplary management link, an appropriate line coding method isalso needed. For example, a digital line coding method used inconnection with OOK modulation must be a unipolar code. That is, thecode must vary between a thresholded non zero vale and a zero value incontrast to other codes which are typically symmetric with respect to,for example, voltage. Some popular line codes suitable for use inaccordance with various exemplary embodiments include, but are notlimited to: unipolar non-return to zero (UNRZ), unipolar Return to zero(URZ), Offset Manchester Encoding, and the like.

Still another type of modulation scheme suitable for use in accordancewith various exemplary embodiments, is pulse position modulation (PPM)called out, for example, in the 1999 version of the 802.11specification, section 16, in connection with the infrared physicallayer. PPM is a useful modulation scheme as it is very power efficient.Further, PPM fits well within the protocol framework since the higherlayers of the protocol may be specified by the 802.11 link layer.Alternatively, protocol layers above modulation at the physical layermay be specified and adopted from another standard such as the IrDaspecification.

Where 802.11 is used above the physical layer, a special timingsynchronization pre-amble may be required associated with the managementlink, but only after a pre-amble conforming in duration to any standard802.11 pre-amble being used in the same channel. The initial pre-amblepreferably has no AM or OOK to allow, for example, the 802.11distributed coordination function to operate correctly. Using the higherlayers or at least a portion thereof adopted from 802.11, when repeater200 transmits an OOK waveform associated with the management link, theMAC protocol would obey the 802.11 DCS procedures, allowing low impactto existing data traffic. Also, in accordance with 802.11 link layerspecifications, the management link preferably operates in a positiveacknowledgment mode.

Thus in accordance with various exemplary embodiments, the managementlink and the modulated signal thereon is being operated as a uniquephysical layer under 802.11 higher layers. Further, adoption of higherprotocol layers from 802.11 within repeater 200 allows a known andeffective addressing scheme to be incorporated thereinto, and many wellestablished procedures for handling anomalies such as collisions and thelike may further be incorporated thereinto.

It will be appreciated that the above described modem may be used totransmit and receive data between 802.11 or other station devices (STA)and/or APs also in communication with each other and used for datacommunications. When communicating between each other via repeater 200,standard 802.11 modulation may be used. Since repeater 200 is preferablynon-regenerative; it does not demodulate the repeated 802.11 waveformsand thus has no access to the information within the repeated 802.11packets, the management link is needed. Thus when, for example, an AP,for example, an 802.11 AP desires to communicate directly with repeater200 rather than a STA device, the control link with OOK modulation maybe used. Messages bound for repeater 200, as with standard 802.11 packetformat, may include a MAC address of the repeater or in the case of areturn message from repeater 200, the MAC address of the AP. Messagesmay include information used for node identification, initialconfiguration, modifications to the current configuration, andperformance monitoring information.

In accordance with various exemplary embodiments repeater 200, adetailed schematic of which is shown in FIG. 2, is preferably capable ofreceiving at least two different frequencies simultaneously, determiningwhich one contains activity, translating the frequency of the activefrequency to the one of the other frequencies and retransmitting afrequency translated version of the received signal. Features of theexemplary repeater include its ability to receive a signal and translatethe frequency of the received signal with very little distortion due tofast signal detection and delaying the received signal long enough todetermine proper control actions as described more fully in the abovereferenced International Patent Application No. PCT/US03/29130.

In accordance with various exemplary and alternative exemplaryembodiments of the present invention, RF signals propagate from variouswireless devices, such as an AP or the like, become incident to element300 which element is an antenna or like electromagnetic transducerconfigured to receive the energy from the propagating signal andeventually convert the signal energy to a time variant voltage levelrepresenting the signal. In a preferred embodiment, element 300 is asingle omni directional antenna tuned and matched to the frequencies ofinterest, although element 300 could alternatively include, but is notlimited to, a directional planar antenna, a dual element antenna, adirectional arrays, and the like.

RF signals may be converted by element 300 as described into a timevariant voltage signal which signal may then be fed to element 305 whichis preferably an isolator. Note that, using the topology shown in FIG.2, to form two complete 802.11 clients within two or more respectiverepeaters 200, an end to end regenerative repeating system may beformed. However, the non-regenerative repeater shown in FIG. 2 anddescribed herein is considered to be more cost effective. Element 305allows signals to flow from element 300 to low noise amplifier (LNA) 310and from power amplifier (PA) 325 to element 300 but preferably blocksor isolates LNA 310 from PA 325 as can be understood and appreciated. Itwill further be appreciated that element 305 could also include but isnot limited to a circulator, a directional coupler, a splitter, aswitch, and the like as would be known to one of ordinary skill in theart.

As described, received signals maybe fed to LNA 310 for amplificationand for setting the noise level. The amplified signal may then be fed tosplitter 315 which performs an RF power splitting or coupling functionof the signal into two different paths. It should be noted that splitter315 could also include a directional coupler or any device capable ofseparating the main received signal into two signals on two paths.

Frequency converters 320 and 321 mix RF signals fed from splitter 315with signals from local oscillator 340 and 341 to produce anintermediate frequency (IF) signal typically lower in frequency than theRF signal. Local oscillator 340 and 341 are tuned to different frequencysuch that two different signals at two different frequencies fed fromsplitter 315 can be converted to a common IF frequency. For example, iftwo different frequencies, say, F1 at 2.412 GHz and F2 at 2.462 GHz, arepresent at the input to frequency converters 320 and 321, and, assumingfrequency converter 320 is performing a low side mixing function andfrequency converter 321 is performing a high side mixing function, then,with LO1 tuned, for example, to 2.342 GHz and LO2 tuned to 2.532 GHz,the outputs from frequency converters 320 and 321 would represent theinputs on F1 and F2 transformed to an IF of 70 MHz.

Each of splitters 323 and 324 operate to separate respective incoming IFsignals into two different paths. One of the two paths from each ofsplitters 323 and 324 couples the respective split signal to delay lines361 and 360 respectively while the other goes to 366 and 365respectively. Delay lines 360 and 361 are preferably band-pass filterswith delays. Filtering in delay lines 360 and 361 is required to removeall but the desired frequency components from the mixing operation.Additionally, in accordance with various exemplary embodiments, filtersassociated with delay lines 360 and 361 preferably have sufficient timedelay such that the detection and control circuitry can detect which ofthe two RF frequencies are present and perform control functions to bedescribed hereinafter while signals are delayed therewithin.Alternatively, if truncation of some of the first part of the RF signalis tolerable, then delay lines 360 and 361 would not need specifieddelays. Bandpass filters (BPF) 365 and 366 in detection and control unit386 may further perform band-pass filtering without specified long timedelays. It should be noted that BPFs 365 and 366 preferably do notrequire the same level of filtering performance as delay lines 360 and361.

Power detectors 370 and 371 in accordance with various exemplaryembodiments, are preferably simple power detection devices configured todetect whether activity, such as a signal is present on F1 or F2 andprovide an output voltage proportional thereto. It will be appreciatedthat many forms of analog detection may be used for power detectors 370and 371 including but not limited to, matched filters at RF or IF usingSAW devices, matched filters or correlators operating at basebandfrequencies after analog to digital conversion, and the like. It will beappreciated that in accordance with various exemplary and alternativeexemplary embodiments, power detectors 370 and 371 would be used todemodulate the OOK or other amplitude modulated wave form associatedwith the management link as described herein above.

Low pass filters (LPF) 375 and 376 are preferably low-pass filters withnarrower bandwidths than BPFs 365 and 366. It should be noted that LPFs375 and 376 are required to remove the high frequency componentsremaining after detection leaving the power envelope for conversion fromanalog to digital by converters 380 and 381 which are preferably fastanalog-to-digital converters as are known in the art. A digitalrepresentation of the analog power envelope remaining after filteringmay be generated by converters 380 and 381 and sent to processor 385which is preferably a microprocessor, digital signal processor, ASIC, orother digital processing and control device, or the like.

It should be noted that in accordance with various exemplary andalternative exemplary embodiments, processor 385 can be programmed toimplement software, algorithms, or the like, necessary, for example, inthe detection of activity on F1 or F2 within a high degree of certainty,and initiate appropriate control functions. Processor 385, for example,may be configured to use the digitized power envelope information toperform, for example, MODEM functions required to de-modulate thewaveform associated with the management link. Such functions may includethreshold detection, timing recovery, CRC verification, higher layerprotocol functions, and the like. Alternatively, the processor can beeliminated and an exemplary circuit configured with peak detectors withadjustable threshold controls. Digital gates, such as logic circuits orthe like, can preferably be configured to generate control outputs tocontrol, for example, the switching and display functions, andlogarithmic amplifiers coupled to the output of the low-pass filters,the analog power envelope, to control AGC functions and the like. Itshould be noted that AGC function, under micro-processor control can beused to perform amplitude modulation in the form of OOK or other, forthe transmit oriented functions associated with the management link.

It will further be appreciated that feedback may be useful to indicatecertain conditions, such as repeater status conditions, to a user. Theprovision of user feedback can be controlled, preferably by processor385, by illuminating indicators 390 which may include, but are notlimited to, a series of lamps, light emitting diodes, or the like.Feedback may include an indication, for example, that repeater 200 is inan acceptable location such that frequencies from multiple devices canbe detected, that power is supplied to repeater 200, that activity ispresent, and the like.

Once activity is detected on either F1 or F2, processor 385 controlsswitches 345 and 355 to allow signal routing. For example, switch 355 ispreferably switched to allow the detected signal, either F1 or F2, whichsignal is at an IF frequency, to be routed to the input of frequencyconverter 350. Processor 385 further may set switch 345 to allow anappropriate LO signal from either local oscillator 340 or 341 to berouted to frequency converter 350 so that the IF frequency input theretois translated to the proper frequency for output. As an example, usingthe frequency in the previous examples, assume F1 is at 2.412 GHz, andF2 is at 2.462 GHz, and the IF is 70 MHz, and the frequency of localoscillator 340, LO, is 2.342 GHz, the frequency of local oscillator 341,LO2, is 2.532 GHz. If F1 is detected and a portion thereof routedthrough splitter 315 and frequency converter 320 to delay line 361,switch 355 is set to receive its input from delay line 361, which inputis F1 translated to an IF of 70 MHz. Since F1 is to be retransmitted atF2 or 2.462 GHz, then switch 345 would be set to derive LO2 frequency at2.532 GHz from local oscillator 341. The output of frequency converter350 would thus be a combination of two frequency components LO2-IF andLO2+IF. Since the desired component is LO2-IF, the calculation would be2.532 GHz−70 MHz or 2.462 GHz which as it can be seen is F2.

Since frequency converter 350 produces the sum and difference of inputsignals from switch 345 and switch 355, filter 355 is preferably used toremove the undesirable component. Thus, in the example above, theundesirable component is LO2+IF or 2.602 GHZ and filter 335 ispreferably configured or otherwise suitably tuned to perform filteringoperations to remove undesired frequency. The example can be applied aswell, with appropriate substitutions of values, in a scenario where F2is detected.

It will be appreciated that, in accordance with the above description, atranslated and filtered version of the received signal is applied tovariable gain amplifier 330 for applying a variable amount of gain undercontrol, for example, of processor 385. Applying gain at this stage isimportant to ensure that the signal being fed, for example, to PA 325for output to the air interface is within the target transmit powerrange as specified by, inter alia, FCC rules. PA 325 outputs theamplified signal to element 305, which as noted above is preferably anisolator, which then outputs the signal to element 300. As can beappreciated, the signal may then be converted back to an electromagneticfield for transmission by element 300.

It should be noted that the above descriptions and attendant exampleassume particular values for F1 and F2. It is also possible to operatewith any value F1 and F2 by moving LO1 and LO2 to different definedchannels and checking for power detection at those channels. Once thechannels are determined, processor 385 will use those and all operationswill be preformed as described above. Control of LO1 and LO2 can beaccomplished by processor 385. It should further be noted that frequencytranslation may be controlled according to a timer, which may beimplemented in the processor or can be a timer circuit (not shown).Alternatively, frequency translation may be maintained for the durationof a packet interval associated with a received signal, or may bemaintained while activity is detected.

One of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that the AP 100, asnoted herein above, may be operatively coupled to any one or acombination of wired or wireless wide area network infrastructureelements through an interface which is typically compliant to agoverning protocol and connected using one, or a combination of, thefollowing connection types and/or equipment or equipment types: digitalsubscriber line (DSL), cable modem, PSTN, Cat5 Ethernet cable, cellularmodem, other wireless local loop type system, or the like such as, forexample, in accordance with 802.16 protocol.

Further, AP 100, as also noted herein above, may be connected in anad-hoc peer to peer network configuration where client stations, nodes,devices and the like communicate without the aid of a base unit. Anexemplary WLAN, in accordance with various exemplary embodiments,preferably requires that each unit receive and transmit at the samefrequency; where the exemplary protocol used therein defines multipleoperating frequencies; and where the exemplary protocol includes atleast one of the following: 802.11, 802.11b, 802.11a, 802.11g, anyadditional incremental extensions or evolutions of the 802.11 WLANprotocol, Bluetooth, TDS-CDMA, TDD-W-CDMA.

Referring to FIG. 3, block 400 exemplary components related to thefunctionality in accordance with various exemplary embodiments, ofhardware represented, for example, in FIG. 2. Block 401 includes a modem406 in parallel with, for example, frequency translating repeater 200,having interconnects allowing the in band management link to be realizedusing modem 406. Analog front end 409 is preferably capable of receivingboth F1 and F2, and may further be coupled or otherwise interfaced withdown converter 403. Down converter 403 is preferably connected to signalpath 404, detection path 405, and modem 406 which as can be appreciatedis an in-band modem. It should be noted that down-converter 403processes the incoming signal to a common intermediate frequency whichis then routed through various modules and circuit elements. Modem 406is preferably capable of processing incoming signals to demodulate thesignal to information bits and passing the information bits to processor407 which, in accordance with various exemplary and alternativeexemplary embodiments, can be the same as processor 385 shown in FIG. 2,can be an auxiliary processor working in connection with processor 385,or can be a dedicated processor or the like as would be appreciated byone of ordinary skill. Processor 407 can in turn generate messaging inthe form of information bits and pass this information to the modem 406where modulated waveforms associated with the information bits can begenerated and coupled to transmit selection block 408. Transmitselection block 408 is configured to couple the modulated waveform frommodem 407 to up-converter 402, which in-turn generates baseband signalsand couples the output to RF module 409 for amplification andtransmission, for example under the guidance of processor 407 or thelike.

It should be noted that in accordance with operation during intervalswhere frequency translating repeater is in the process of repeating,signal path 404 and detection path 405 operate, for example, asdescribed with reference to FIG. 2. Detection block 405 preferablydetects the presence of a packet or signals associated with a packet onF1 or F2 translated to the two inputs thereof, from down converter block403. When a signal has been detected, transmit selection block 408 ispreferably controlled either by processor 407 as noted above, or bycombinatorial logic, shown in the diagram illustrated in FIG. 3 asassociated with processor 407, and coupled to detector block 405, thuscausing the selection of the signal which is preferably present on atleast one of the two independent paths of signal path 404. It will beappreciated that the signal is preferably up-converted by up-converter402 and transmitted as described in FIG. 2.

One of ordinary skill in the art will further recognize that varioustechniques can be used to configure different modulation methods such asamplitude modulation using gain control, and, for example, differentsignal detector circuits without departing from the scope of the presentinvention. Additionally, various components, such as variable gaincontrol 330, processor 385 and functions carried out thereon forimplementation of an in band management in accordance with variousexemplary embodiments, and other elements could be combined into asingle integrated device such as an application specific circuit or thelike. Other changes and alterations to specific components, and theinterconnections thereof, can be made by one of ordinary skill in theart without deviating from the scope and spirit of the presentinvention.

The invention has been described in detail with particular references topresently preferred embodiments thereof, but it will be understood thatvariations and modifications can be effected within the spirit and scopeof the invention.

1. A method for managing the operation of a frequency translatingrepeater within a wireless local area network (WLAN) environment, thefrequency translating repeater capable of establishing a first radiofrequency (RF) link having a first and second frequency channel, theWLAN environment governed by a communication protocol, the WLANenvironment capable of having at least another WLAN node compliant withthe communication protocol and capable of establishing a second RF linkto the frequency translating repeater on either the first or secondfrequency channel, the method comprising: establishing a management linkwith the at least another WLAN node at a higher layer of thecommunication protocol; and configuring at least one of the first andsecond RF link based on a message associated with the communicationprotocol and transferred on the management link between the frequencytranslating repeater and the at least another WLAN node.
 2. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the establishing a management linkincludes detecting a waveform modulated in accordance with the higherlayer of the communication protocol on at least one of the first and thesecond RF link.
 3. The method according to claim 1, wherein theestablishing a management link includes modulating a waveform inaccordance with the higher layer of the communication protocol on atleast one of the first and the second RF link.
 4. The method accordingto claim 1, wherein the configuring at least one of the first and secondRF links includes configuring the frequency translating repeater totranslate a signal transmitted on one of the first and the second RFlink to the other of the first and the second RF link based on themessage.
 5. The method according to claim 1, wherein the configuring atleast one of the first and second RF links includes configuring thefrequency translating repeater to translate a signal transmitted on oneof the first and the second frequency channel to an other of the firstand the second frequency channel based on the message.
 6. The methodaccording to claim 1, wherein the configuring at least one of the firstand second RF links includes configuring the frequency translatingrepeater change the frequency of at least one of the first or secondfrequency channels.
 7. The method according to claim 1, furthercomprising: monitoring at least the first and second RF links; anddetecting whether a signal is present on one of the at least first andsecond RF links.
 8. The method according to claim 1, wherein theconfiguring at least one of the first and second RF links includesconfiguring the frequency translating repeater change transmission powerof at least one of the first or second frequency channels.
 9. The methodaccording to claim 8, further comprising: translating the detectedsignal: to the second frequency channel if the signal is detected on thefirst frequency channel of the first RF link for a time interval, to thefirst frequency channel if the signal is detected on the secondfrequency channel of the first RF link for the time interval.
 10. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the time interval corresponds to apacket interval associated with the signal.
 11. The method according toclaim 9, wherein the time interval is set according to a timer.
 12. Themethod according to claim 9, wherein the time interval expires when thesignal is no longer detected.
 13. A frequency translating repeatercapable of use within a WLAN environment governed by a communicationprotocol and capable of having at least another WLAN node compliant withthe communication protocol, the frequency translating repeatercomprising: a transceiver section; and a processor coupled to thetransceiver section, the processor configured to: be capable ofestablishing a first RF link having a first and second frequencychannel, wherein the at least another WLAN node is capable ofestablishing an RF with the frequency translating repeater establish anin-band management link with the at least another WLAN node at a higherlayer of the communication protocol, and configure at least one of thefirst and second RF links based on a message associated with thecommunication protocol and transferred on the management link betweenthe frequency translating repeater and the at least another WLAN node.14. The frequency translating repeater according to claim 13, whereinthe transceiver section includes a detection circuit to detect awaveform, modulated in accordance with the higher layer of thecommunication protocol, on at least one of the first and the second RFlink.
 15. The frequency translating repeater according to claim 13,wherein the transceiver section includes a modulator to modulate awaveform in accordance with the higher layer of the communicationprotocol, on at least one of the first and the second RF link.
 16. Thefrequency translating repeater according to claim 13, wherein theprocessor, in configuring at least one of the first and second RF linksis further configured to configure the frequency translating repeater totranslate a signal transmitted on one of the first and the second RFlink to the other of the first and the second RF link based on themessage.
 17. The frequency translating repeater according to claim 13,wherein the processor, in configuring at least one of the first andsecond RF links is further configured to configure the frequencytranslating repeater to translate a signal transmitted on one of thefirst and the second frequency channel to an other of the first and thesecond frequency channel based on the message.
 18. The frequencytranslating repeater according to claim 13, wherein the processor, inconfiguring at least one of the first and second RF links is furtherconfigured to configure the frequency translating repeater to translatea signal transmitted on one of the first and the second frequencychannel to one of a third and the fourth frequency channel based on themessage.
 19. The frequency translating repeater according to claim 17,wherein the processor is further configured to: monitor at least thefirst and second RF links; and detect whether a signal is present on oneof the at least first and second RF links.
 20. The frequency translatingrepeater according to claim 19, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to: translate the detected signal: to the second frequencychannel if the signal is detected on the first frequency channel of thefirst RF link for a time interval, to the first frequency channel if thesignal is detected on the second frequency channel of the first RF linkfor the time interval, to the fourth frequency channel if the signal isdetected on the third frequency channel of the second RF link for thetime interval, and to the third frequency channel if the signal isdetected on the fourth frequency channel of the second RF link for thetime interval,
 21. The frequency translating repeater according to claim20, wherein the time interval corresponds to a packet intervalassociated with the signal.
 22. The frequency translating repeateraccording to claim 20, wherein the time interval is set according to atimer.
 23. The frequency translating repeater according to claim 20,wherein the time interval expires when the signal is no longer detected.24. The frequency translating repeater of claim 13, further comprisingan intermediate frequency (IF) unit configured to be capable of:down-converting a signal on the first RF link; and selecting one of thefirst and second frequency channels for connection to the transceiver.25. The frequency translating repeater of claim 24, wherein the IF unitis further configured to filter the down-converted signal from the oneof the first and second frequency channels.
 26. The frequencytranslating repeater of claim 24, wherein the IF unit if furtherconfigured to: delay the down converted signal from the one of the firstand second frequency channel during a period when a signal is notdetected on an other of the first and second frequency channel, thedelay to prevent a loss of at least a portion of the signal.
 27. Thefrequency translating repeater of claim 13, further comprising a diodedetector coupled to the transceiver and the processor, the diodedetector configured to detect at one of: an IF signal, and a basebandsignal.
 28. The frequency translating repeater of claim 13, furthercomprising a matched filter detector coupled to the transceiver and theprocessor, the matched filter detector configured to detect at one of:an IF signal, and a RF signal.
 29. The frequency translating repeater ofclaim 19, further comprising a converter coupled to the transceiver andthe processor, the converter configured to convert the signal to adigital signal and wherein the processor in detecting is furtherconfigured to: compare a power level associated with the signal powerassociated with the first and the second frequency channel; determine anoise estimate associated with the power level; compare the currentsignal power to this estimate as part of the detection process.
 30. Thefrequency translating repeater of claim 29, wherein the processor indetecting is further configured to: integrate the power level associatedwith the signal for a period of time; and compare the integrated powerlevel to the power level associated with the signal.
 31. The frequencytranslating repeater according to claim 13, wherein the frequencytranslating repeater includes a non-regenerative repeater.
 32. Thefrequency translating repeater according to claim 13, further comprisinga transmit antenna and a receive antenna, and wherein the transceiver isconfigured to transmit using the transmit antenna and to receive usingthe receive antenna.
 33. The frequency translating repeater according toclaim 32, wherein the transmit antenna and the receive antenna haveopposite polarizations.
 34. The frequency translating repeater accordingto claim 32, wherein the transmit antenna and the receive antenna aredirectionally isolated.
 35. A non-regenerative frequency translatingrepeater having a first and a second RF channel, the non-regenerativefrequency translating repeater comprising: a memory; a processor coupledto the memory, the processor configured to: receive a signal associatedwith a data packet on a first RF channel; translate the signalassociated with the data packet to a second RF channel; and translatethe signal from the second RF channel to the first RF channel with nore-generation of the signal; and a modem coupled to the memory and theprocessor, the modem configured to control a management link between awireless local area network and the non-regenerative frequencytranslating repeater.
 36. The non-regenerative frequency translatingrepeater according to claim 35, further comprising one or more of thefollowing components: a low noise amplifier (LNA), a power amplifier(PA), an up converter, and a down converter, and wherein the modemfurther includes a client device and wherein the one or more of thecomponents are shared between the non-regenerative frequency translatingrepeater and the client device.
 37. The non-regenerative frequencytranslating repeater according to claim 35, wherein the modem includesan IEEE 802.11 standard compliant device.
 38. The non-regenerativefrequency translating repeater according to claim 35, wherein the modemis capable of receiving and transmitting at least a sub-set of messagesdefined in IEEE 802.11 and derivative IEEE 802.11.
 39. Thenon-regenerative frequency translating repeater according to claim 35,wherein the modem includes a standard client device
 40. Thenon-regenerative frequency translating repeater according to claim 35,further comprising a detector for detecting the signal and wherein thedetector is shared between the non-regenerative frequency translatingrepeater and the modem.
 41. The non-regenerative frequency translatingrepeater according to claim 40, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to demodulate information on the management link using thedetector.
 42. The non-regenerative frequency translating repeateraccording to claim 41, wherein the information on the management link ismodulated using amplitude modulation of the signal.
 43. Thenon-regenerative frequency translating repeater according to claim 41,wherein the modem is further configured to communicate with one or moreof: an 802.11 device, a station device (STA), and a data communicationsdevice.
 44. The non-regenerative frequency translating repeateraccording to claim 35, wherein the modem is further configured tocommunicate with one or more of: an access point (AP), and a repeater.45. The non-regenerative frequency translating repeater according toclaim 44, wherein the AP includes an 802.11 AP.
 46. The non-regenerativefrequency translating repeater according to claim 44, wherein one ormore messages transmitted on the management link include: a MAC addressof the repeater, and a MAC address of the access point.
 47. Thenon-regenerative frequency translating repeater according to claim 46,wherein the one or more messages include one or more of the following: anode identification message, an initial configuration message, aconfiguration modification message, and a performance monitoringmessage.